We analyze the localized surface plasmon resonance spectra of periodic square lattice arrays of gold nano-disks, and we describe numerically and experimentally the effect of disorder on resonance width, spectrum, and EM field enhancement in increasingly randomized patterns. The periodic structure shows a narrower and stronger extinction peak, conversely we observe an increase of up to (1–2)×10² times enhancement as the disorder is gradually introduced. This allows for simpler, lower resolution fabrication, cost-effective in light harvesting for solar cell and sensing applications. We show that dipole-dipole interactions contribute to diffract light parallel to the surface as a mean of long-range coupling between the nano-disks.

© 2012 OSA

1. S. Link and M. A. El-Sayed, “Size and temperature dependence of the plasmon absorption of colloidal gold nanoparticles,” J. Phys. Chem. B103, 4212–4217 (1999). [CrossRef]
2. O. Shekhah, J. Liu, R. A. Fischer, and Ch. Woll, “MOF thin films: existing and future application,” Chem. Soc. Rev.40, 1081–1106 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. D. M. Koller, A. Hohenau, H. Ditlbacher, N. Galler, F. Reil, F. R. Aussenegg, A. Leitner, E. J. W. List, and J. R. Krenn, “Organic plasmon-emitting diode,” Nat. Photonics2, 684–687 (2008). [CrossRef]
4. W. Cai, A. P. Vasudev, and M. L. Brongersma, “Electrically controlled nonlinear generation of light with plasmonics,” Science, 333, 1720–1723 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. A. E. Miroshnichenko, S. Flach, and Y. S. Kivshar, “Fano resonances in nanoscale structures,” Rev. Mod. Phys.82, 2257–2298 (2010). [CrossRef]
6. D. K. Gramotnev, A. Pors, M. Willatzen, and S. I. Bozhevolnyi, “Gap-plasmon nanoantennas and bowtie resonators,” Phys. Rev. B85, 045434 (2012). [CrossRef]
7. V. K. Valev, N. Smisdom, A. V. Silhanek, B. De Clercq, W. Gillijns, M. Ameloot, V. V. Moshchalkov, and T. Verbiest, “Plasmonic ratchet wheels: switching circular dichroism by arranging chiral nanostructures,” Nano Lett.9, 3945–3948 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. M. Michaels, M. Nirmal, and L. E. Brus, “Surface enhanced raman spectroscopy of individual rhodamine 6G molecules on large Ag nanocrystals,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.121, 9932–9939 (1999). [CrossRef]
9. F. Lordan, J. H. Rice, B. Jose, R. J. Forster, and T. E. Keyes, “Site selective surface enhanced Raman on nanostructured cavities,” Appl. Phys. Lett.99, 033104 (2011). [CrossRef]
10. K. Ueno, S. Juodkazis, M. Mino, V. Mizeikis, and H. Misawa, “Spectral sensitivity of uniform arrays of gold nanorods to dielectric environment,” J. Phys. Chem. C111, 4180–4184 (2007). [CrossRef]
11. Y. Sawai, B. Takimoto, H. Nabika, K. Ajito, and K. Murakoshi, “Observation of a small number of molecules at a metal nanogap arrayed on a solid surface using surface-enhanced Raman scattering,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.129, 1658–1662 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
12. Y. Nishijima, K. Ueno, Y. Yokota, K. Murakoshi, and H. Misawa, “Plasmon-assisted photocurrent generation from visible to near-infrared wavelength using a Au-nanorods/TiO2 electrode,” J. Phys. Chem. Lett.1, 2031–2036 (2010). [CrossRef]
13. Y. Tsuboi, T. Shoji, N. Kitamura, M. Takase, K. Murakoshi, Y. Mizumoto, and H. Ishihara, “Optical trapping of quantum dots based on gap-mode-extinction of localized surface plasmon,” Chem. Lett.1, 2327–2333 (2010). [CrossRef]
14. I. M. Monirul, K. Ueno, S. Juodkazis, Y. Yokota, and H. Misawa, “Development of interdigitated array electrodes with surface-enhanced raman scattering Functionality,” Anal. Sci.26, 13–18 (2010). [CrossRef]
15. K. Ueno, S. Takabatake, K. Onishi, H. Itoh, Y. Nishijima, and H. Misawa, “Homogeneous nano-patterning using plasmon-assisted photolithography,” Appl. Phys. Lett.99, 011107 (2011). [CrossRef]
16. J. Merlein, M. Kahl, A. Zuschlag, A. Sell, A. Halm, J. Boneberg, P. Leiderer, A. Leitenstorfer, and R. Bratschitsch, “Nanomechanical control of an optical antenna,” Nat. Photonics2, 230–233 (2008). [CrossRef]
17. S. J. Barrow, A. M. Funston, D. E. Gomez, T. J. Davis, and P. Mulvaney, “Surface plasmon resonances in strongly coupled gold nanosphere chains from monomer to hexamer,” Nano Lett.11, 4180–4187 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
18. A. Roberts and L. Lin, “Substrate and aspect-ratio effects in resonant nanoaperture arrays,” Opt. Mater. Express1, 480–488 (2011). [CrossRef]
19. K. Ueno, S. Juodkazis, V. Mizeikis, K. Sasaki, and H. Misawa, “Clusters of closely-spaced gold nanoparticles as a source of two-photon photoluminescence at visible wavelengths,” Adv. Mater.20, 26–30 (2008). [CrossRef]
20. T. Teranishi, M. Eguchi, M. Kanehara, and S. Gwo, “Controlled localized surface plasmon resonance wavelength for conductive nanoparticles over the ultraviolet to near-infrared region,” J. Mater. Chem.21, 10238–10242 (2011). [CrossRef]
21. K. Ueno, S. Juodkazis, V. Mizeikis, K. Sasaki, and H. Misawa, “Spectrally-resolved atomic-scale length variations of gold nanorods,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.128, 14226–14227 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
22. Y. K. Kim, A. J. Danner, J. J. Raftery, and K. D. Choquette, “Focused ion beam nanopatterning for optoelectronic device fabrication,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum. Electron.11, 1292–1298 (2005). [CrossRef]
23. M. Hu, C. Novo, A. Funston, H. Wang, H. Staleva, S. Zou, P. Mulvaney, Y. Xia, and G. V. Hartland, “Dark-field microscopy studies of single metal nanoparticles: understanding the factors that influence the linewidth of the localized surface plasmon resonance,” J. Mater. Chem.18, 1949–1960 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
24. S. Juodkazis and L. Rosa, “Surface defect mediated electron hopping between nanoparticles separated by a nano-gap,” Phys. Status Solidi - Rapid Res. Lett.10, 244–246 (2010). [CrossRef]
25. W. Khunsin, B. Brian, J. Dorfmuller, M. Esslinger, R. Vogelgesang, C. Etrich, C. Rockstuhl, A. Dmitriev, and K. Kern, “Long-distance indirect excitation of nanoplasmonic resonances,” Nano Lett.11, 2765–2769 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
26. M. I. Stockman, S. V. Faleev, and D. J. Bergman, “Localization versus delocalization of surface plasmons in nanosystems: Can one state have both characteristics?” Phys. Rev. Lett.87, 167401 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
27. T. Takasone, S. Juodkazis, Y. Kawagishi, A. Yamaguchi, S. Matsuo, H. Sakakibara, H. Nakayama, and H. Misawa, “Flexural rigidity of a single microtubule,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.41, 3015–3019 (2002). [CrossRef]
28. T. Klar, M. Perner, S. Grosse, G. von Plessen, W. Spirkl, and J. Feldmann, “Surface-plasmon resonances in single metallic nanoparticles,” Phys. Rev. Lett.80, 4249–4252 (1998). [CrossRef]
29. C. Sonnichsen, S. Geier, N. E. Hecker, G. von Plessen, J. Feldmann, H. Ditlbacher, B. Lamprecht, J. R. Krenn, F. R. Ausseneg, V. Z-H. Chan, J. P. Spatz, and M. Moller, “Spectroscopy of single metallic nanoparticles using total internal reflection microscopy,” Appl. Phys. Lett.77, 132355, (2000). [CrossRef]
30. M. L. Brongersma, J. W. Hartman, and H. A. Atwater, “Electromagnetic energy transfer and switching in nanoparticle chain arrays below the diffraction limit,” Phys. Rev. B62, R16356–R16359 (2000). [CrossRef]
31. B. Lamprecht, G. Schider, R. T. Lechner, H. Ditlbacher, J. R. Krenn, A. Leitner, and F. R. Aussenegg, “Metal nanoparticle gratings: Influence of dipolar particle interaction on the plasmon resonance,” Phys. Rev. Lett.84, 4721–4724 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
32. W. Gotschy, K. Vonmetz, A. Leitner, and F. R. Aussenegg, “Optical dichroism of lithographically designed silver nanoparticle films,” Opt. Lett.21, 1099–1101, (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
33. C. Sonnichsen, T. Franzl, T. Wilk, G. von Plessen, J. Feldmann, O. Wilson, and P. Mulvaney, “Drastic reduction of plasmon damping in gold nanorods,” Phys. Rev. Lett.88, 077402 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
34. G. V. Hartland, “Coherent vibrational motion in metal particles: Determination of the vibrational amplitude and excitation mechanism,” J. Chem. Phys.116, 8048–8056 (2002). [CrossRef]
35. L. Rosa, K. Sun, and S. Juodkazis, “Sierpinski fractal plasmonic nanoantennas,” Phys. Status Solidi - Rapid Res. Lett.5, 175–177 (2011). [CrossRef]
36. X. Chen, B. Jia, J. K. Saha, B. Cai, N. Stokes, Q. Qiao, Y. Wang, Z. Shi, and M. Gu, “Broadband enhancement in thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells enabled by nucleated silver nanoparticles,” Nano Lett.2012 (in press) [CrossRef] [PubMed]
37. K. Aydin, V. E. Ferry, R. M. Briggs, and H. A. Atwater, “Broadband polarization-independent resonant light absorption using ultrathin plasmonic super absorbers,” Nat. Commun.2, 517 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
38. A. K. Sarychev, V. A. Shubin, and V. M. Shalaev, “Anderson localization of surface plasmons and nonlinear optics of metal-dielectric composites,” Phys. Rev. B6016389–16408 (1999). [CrossRef]
39. S. Takeda, S. Hamada, R. Peretti, P. Viktorovitch, and M. Obara, “Order to disorder optical phase transition in random photonic crystals,” Appl. Phys. B10695–100 (2012). [CrossRef]
40. Z. -L. Deng, Z. -H. Li, J. -W. Dong, and H. -Z. Wang, “In-plane plasmonic modes in a quasicrystalline array of metal nanoparticles,” Plasmonics6, 507–514 (2011). [CrossRef]
41. K. Juodkazis, J. Juodkazytė, P. Kalinauskas, E. Jelmakas, and S. Juodkazis, “Photoelectrolysis of Water: Solar Hydrogen - Achievements and Perspectives,” Opt. Express18, A147–A160 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Adv. Mater.

• K. Ueno, S. Juodkazis, V. Mizeikis, K. Sasaki, and H. Misawa, “Clusters of closely-spaced gold nanoparticles as a source of two-photon photoluminescence at visible wavelengths,” Adv. Mater.20, 26–30 (2008). [CrossRef]

Anal. Sci.

• I. M. Monirul, K. Ueno, S. Juodkazis, Y. Yokota, and H. Misawa, “Development of interdigitated array electrodes with surface-enhanced raman scattering Functionality,” Anal. Sci.26, 13–18 (2010). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. B

• S. Takeda, S. Hamada, R. Peretti, P. Viktorovitch, and M. Obara, “Order to disorder optical phase transition in random photonic crystals,” Appl. Phys. B10695–100 (2012). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• K. Ueno, S. Takabatake, K. Onishi, H. Itoh, Y. Nishijima, and H. Misawa, “Homogeneous nano-patterning using plasmon-assisted photolithography,” Appl. Phys. Lett.99, 011107 (2011). [CrossRef]
• F. Lordan, J. H. Rice, B. Jose, R. J. Forster, and T. E. Keyes, “Site selective surface enhanced Raman on nanostructured cavities,” Appl. Phys. Lett.99, 033104 (2011). [CrossRef]
• C. Sonnichsen, S. Geier, N. E. Hecker, G. von Plessen, J. Feldmann, H. Ditlbacher, B. Lamprecht, J. R. Krenn, F. R. Ausseneg, V. Z-H. Chan, J. P. Spatz, and M. Moller, “Spectroscopy of single metallic nanoparticles using total internal reflection microscopy,” Appl. Phys. Lett.77, 132355, (2000). [CrossRef]

Chem. Lett.

• Y. Tsuboi, T. Shoji, N. Kitamura, M. Takase, K. Murakoshi, Y. Mizumoto, and H. Ishihara, “Optical trapping of quantum dots based on gap-mode-extinction of localized surface plasmon,” Chem. Lett.1, 2327–2333 (2010). [CrossRef]

Chem. Soc. Rev.

• O. Shekhah, J. Liu, R. A. Fischer, and Ch. Woll, “MOF thin films: existing and future application,” Chem. Soc. Rev.40, 1081–1106 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum. Electron.

• Y. K. Kim, A. J. Danner, J. J. Raftery, and K. D. Choquette, “Focused ion beam nanopatterning for optoelectronic device fabrication,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum. Electron.11, 1292–1298 (2005). [CrossRef]

J. Am. Chem. Soc.

• M. Michaels, M. Nirmal, and L. E. Brus, “Surface enhanced raman spectroscopy of individual rhodamine 6G molecules on large Ag nanocrystals,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.121, 9932–9939 (1999). [CrossRef]
• Y. Sawai, B. Takimoto, H. Nabika, K. Ajito, and K. Murakoshi, “Observation of a small number of molecules at a metal nanogap arrayed on a solid surface using surface-enhanced Raman scattering,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.129, 1658–1662 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• K. Ueno, S. Juodkazis, V. Mizeikis, K. Sasaki, and H. Misawa, “Spectrally-resolved atomic-scale length variations of gold nanorods,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.128, 14226–14227 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

J. Chem. Phys.

• G. V. Hartland, “Coherent vibrational motion in metal particles: Determination of the vibrational amplitude and excitation mechanism,” J. Chem. Phys.116, 8048–8056 (2002). [CrossRef]

J. Mater. Chem.

• M. Hu, C. Novo, A. Funston, H. Wang, H. Staleva, S. Zou, P. Mulvaney, Y. Xia, and G. V. Hartland, “Dark-field microscopy studies of single metal nanoparticles: understanding the factors that influence the linewidth of the localized surface plasmon resonance,” J. Mater. Chem.18, 1949–1960 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• T. Teranishi, M. Eguchi, M. Kanehara, and S. Gwo, “Controlled localized surface plasmon resonance wavelength for conductive nanoparticles over the ultraviolet to near-infrared region,” J. Mater. Chem.21, 10238–10242 (2011). [CrossRef]

J. Phys. Chem. B

• S. Link and M. A. El-Sayed, “Size and temperature dependence of the plasmon absorption of colloidal gold nanoparticles,” J. Phys. Chem. B103, 4212–4217 (1999). [CrossRef]

J. Phys. Chem. C

• K. Ueno, S. Juodkazis, M. Mino, V. Mizeikis, and H. Misawa, “Spectral sensitivity of uniform arrays of gold nanorods to dielectric environment,” J. Phys. Chem. C111, 4180–4184 (2007). [CrossRef]

J. Phys. Chem. Lett.

• Y. Nishijima, K. Ueno, Y. Yokota, K. Murakoshi, and H. Misawa, “Plasmon-assisted photocurrent generation from visible to near-infrared wavelength using a Au-nanorods/TiO2 electrode,” J. Phys. Chem. Lett.1, 2031–2036 (2010). [CrossRef]

Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.

• T. Takasone, S. Juodkazis, Y. Kawagishi, A. Yamaguchi, S. Matsuo, H. Sakakibara, H. Nakayama, and H. Misawa, “Flexural rigidity of a single microtubule,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.41, 3015–3019 (2002). [CrossRef]

Nano Lett.

• W. Khunsin, B. Brian, J. Dorfmuller, M. Esslinger, R. Vogelgesang, C. Etrich, C. Rockstuhl, A. Dmitriev, and K. Kern, “Long-distance indirect excitation of nanoplasmonic resonances,” Nano Lett.11, 2765–2769 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• X. Chen, B. Jia, J. K. Saha, B. Cai, N. Stokes, Q. Qiao, Y. Wang, Z. Shi, and M. Gu, “Broadband enhancement in thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells enabled by nucleated silver nanoparticles,” Nano Lett.2012 (in press) [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• S. J. Barrow, A. M. Funston, D. E. Gomez, T. J. Davis, and P. Mulvaney, “Surface plasmon resonances in strongly coupled gold nanosphere chains from monomer to hexamer,” Nano Lett.11, 4180–4187 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• V. K. Valev, N. Smisdom, A. V. Silhanek, B. De Clercq, W. Gillijns, M. Ameloot, V. V. Moshchalkov, and T. Verbiest, “Plasmonic ratchet wheels: switching circular dichroism by arranging chiral nanostructures,” Nano Lett.9, 3945–3948 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nat. Commun.

• K. Aydin, V. E. Ferry, R. M. Briggs, and H. A. Atwater, “Broadband polarization-independent resonant light absorption using ultrathin plasmonic super absorbers,” Nat. Commun.2, 517 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nat. Photonics

• D. M. Koller, A. Hohenau, H. Ditlbacher, N. Galler, F. Reil, F. R. Aussenegg, A. Leitner, E. J. W. List, and J. R. Krenn, “Organic plasmon-emitting diode,” Nat. Photonics2, 684–687 (2008). [CrossRef]
• J. Merlein, M. Kahl, A. Zuschlag, A. Sell, A. Halm, J. Boneberg, P. Leiderer, A. Leitenstorfer, and R. Bratschitsch, “Nanomechanical control of an optical antenna,” Nat. Photonics2, 230–233 (2008). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• K. Juodkazis, J. Juodkazytė, P. Kalinauskas, E. Jelmakas, and S. Juodkazis, “Photoelectrolysis of Water: Solar Hydrogen - Achievements and Perspectives,” Opt. Express18, A147–A160 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• W. Gotschy, K. Vonmetz, A. Leitner, and F. R. Aussenegg, “Optical dichroism of lithographically designed silver nanoparticle films,” Opt. Lett.21, 1099–1101, (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Mater. Express

• A. Roberts and L. Lin, “Substrate and aspect-ratio effects in resonant nanoaperture arrays,” Opt. Mater. Express1, 480–488 (2011). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. B

• D. K. Gramotnev, A. Pors, M. Willatzen, and S. I. Bozhevolnyi, “Gap-plasmon nanoantennas and bowtie resonators,” Phys. Rev. B85, 045434 (2012). [CrossRef]
• M. L. Brongersma, J. W. Hartman, and H. A. Atwater, “Electromagnetic energy transfer and switching in nanoparticle chain arrays below the diffraction limit,” Phys. Rev. B62, R16356–R16359 (2000). [CrossRef]
• A. K. Sarychev, V. A. Shubin, and V. M. Shalaev, “Anderson localization of surface plasmons and nonlinear optics of metal-dielectric composites,” Phys. Rev. B6016389–16408 (1999). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• B. Lamprecht, G. Schider, R. T. Lechner, H. Ditlbacher, J. R. Krenn, A. Leitner, and F. R. Aussenegg, “Metal nanoparticle gratings: Influence of dipolar particle interaction on the plasmon resonance,” Phys. Rev. Lett.84, 4721–4724 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• C. Sonnichsen, T. Franzl, T. Wilk, G. von Plessen, J. Feldmann, O. Wilson, and P. Mulvaney, “Drastic reduction of plasmon damping in gold nanorods,” Phys. Rev. Lett.88, 077402 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M. I. Stockman, S. V. Faleev, and D. J. Bergman, “Localization versus delocalization of surface plasmons in nanosystems: Can one state have both characteristics?” Phys. Rev. Lett.87, 167401 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• T. Klar, M. Perner, S. Grosse, G. von Plessen, W. Spirkl, and J. Feldmann, “Surface-plasmon resonances in single metallic nanoparticles,” Phys. Rev. Lett.80, 4249–4252 (1998). [CrossRef]

Phys. Status Solidi - Rapid Res. Lett.

• S. Juodkazis and L. Rosa, “Surface defect mediated electron hopping between nanoparticles separated by a nano-gap,” Phys. Status Solidi - Rapid Res. Lett.10, 244–246 (2010). [CrossRef]
• L. Rosa, K. Sun, and S. Juodkazis, “Sierpinski fractal plasmonic nanoantennas,” Phys. Status Solidi - Rapid Res. Lett.5, 175–177 (2011). [CrossRef]

Plasmonics

• Z. -L. Deng, Z. -H. Li, J. -W. Dong, and H. -Z. Wang, “In-plane plasmonic modes in a quasicrystalline array of metal nanoparticles,” Plasmonics6, 507–514 (2011). [CrossRef]

Rev. Mod. Phys.

• A. E. Miroshnichenko, S. Flach, and Y. S. Kivshar, “Fano resonances in nanoscale structures,” Rev. Mod. Phys.82, 2257–2298 (2010). [CrossRef]

Science

• W. Cai, A. P. Vasudev, and M. L. Brongersma, “Electrically controlled nonlinear generation of light with plasmonics,” Science, 333, 1720–1723 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

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